The parts I'm currently planning on putting in it are as follows:
Core i7 processor
4x4GB memory (either 1866, or 1600 -- unsure yet)
Single GeForce GTX 580 (possibly 570)
SLI is necessary. I would also prefer an ASUS mobo.
Can you tell me what your price range is? It looks here like you can afford pretty decent hardware though, but with that nice video card you got, I might recommend a P67 mobo. Unless you really wanna take advantage of hyperthreading which is maybe why you got the i7 in the first place.
And the one DarkMatterTrace linked to actually is a really nice line of Asus. That particular model comes in different versions too depending on what you're willing to spend. I once debated between that one and this ASRock one...http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157265
The ASRock doesn't have the bluetooth like the Asus one does, but it does have four SATA 3 ports which could make for some awesome RAID.
Siaynoq: The price range for the motherboard is probably 200-300. Looking at 2k-3k for the entire build (using parts from newegg). And actually, I'm probably going to end up going for a new 680 for the GPU, because it looks seksi.
To be honest I don't know much about computers (this build will be my first and I plan on learning a lot, and continuing to learn more), so I don't know exactly what I will be taking advantage of as of right now. I don't know anything about overclocking or anything of that nature. I do plan on having the computer for a while, and I expect that USB 3.0 will begin to have some worth in the future, so I would like to be able to have 1-2 USB 3.0s on the rear panel of the board.
I've always thought Asus was best when it came to mobo's but that could just be my lack of computer knowledge. I also don't plan on setting up RAID (at least to begin with) -- I'll be using a 1TB HDD, and a ~120GB SSD.
I guess the dilemma I'm having is that when I look at reviews on motherboards on newegg, all of them are 3-4 stars overall, so nothing really jumps out and says "this is the best", regardless of price.
Edit: I guess that these more pricey motherboards are setup up with all these tools to help people who know more about modding computers than I do. The more expensive boards come with so much that I would probably never make use of. I don't mind spending the money on something high-end, but I also don't need some 400 dollar motherboard that offers qual-SLI, and 8 slots for memory (because I'll probably never install that much). Although, on second thought -- having these as options can't be a bad thing.
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Playing a Wizard. Looking for Demon Hunters to play with.
Siaynoq: The price range for the motherboard is probably 200-300. Looking at 2k-3k for the entire build (using parts from newegg). And actually, I'm probably going to end up going for a new 680 for the GPU, because it looks seksi.
I'm totally jealous if you get that card. You know if you don't know that much about computers then I really wouldn't spend more than 180 on a mobo. Like you said, there will be lots of features on it that you may not even know how to utilize. I would just make sure (since you are willing to go at high as 200) that it at least have USB 3.0 (most of them do anyway) and that it has PCI 3.0. I imagine you're getting an Intel processor? Make sure you get the right one for the sandybridge processors. The 1155 socket is usually what you need. The Asus P8Z6 everyone keeps showing is indeed a nice one and like I said I have debated between that one and the ASRock one that I linked to earlier. Asus does have that UEFI bios which I hear is really nice to work with. I think you get a good value with the ASRock though especially with the four SATA 3 ports. But if you don't think you're getting that much into RAID then I guess it won't matter. And those Asus with the built in bluetooth are cool if you wanna do stuff with like....booting up your computer from far away with your phone just because you can. :Thumbs Up:
To be honest I don't know much about computers (this build will be my first and I plan on learning a lot, and continuing to learn more), so I don't know exactly what I will be taking advantage of as of right now. I don't know anything about overclocking or anything of that nature. I do plan on having the computer for a while, and I expect that USB 3.0 will begin to have some worth in the future, so I would like to be able to have 1-2 USB 3.0s on the rear panel of the board.
Oh yeah, I mean even for 2k you can build a screaming fast machine that's highly future-proofed. And dont' get me wrong, a good solid mobo is critical, but just beware of what makes a mobo cost more. Some features on it justifiably raise the price, others not so much. All I'm saying is for your needs, you can spend even just 150-180 on a mobo and it would still be way nice and you'd be working with something more in your league. I would spend that extra money you'd save on it toward your GPU or a higher capacity SSD or even four identical drives for your SATA 2 ports and do RAID 10! But it's all up to you. My mobo right now is nothing too flashy. I think it was about 100 bucks and it's got all the RAID capability, SATA 3 ports and all that stuff.
I've always thought Asus was best when it came to mobo's but that could just be my lack of computer knowledge. I also don't plan on setting up RAID (at least to begin with) -- I'll be using a 1TB HDD, and a ~120GB SSD.
Oh man, do yourself a favor and educate yourself on RAID. If your budget is really 2-3k....you owe it to yourself! And today's BIOS makes that stuff a lot simpler to setup. Hell, you could even spend a few hundred and buy a dedicated RAID card with your budget. But I'm not sure what all you're looking to buy extra either so....
I guess the dilemma I'm having is that when I look at reviews on motherboards on newegg, all of them are 3-4 stars overall, so nothing really jumps out and says "this is the best", regardless of price.
One thing you'll definitely learn about reviews is how worthless they are. Or at least....don't think you need to find a product that's rated five eggs because that's rare. People will rate a product at its lowest if say, its defective. That just happens with sensitive electronics sometimes so they're not even rating the product for how it performed when it's dead on arrival. But I know what you mean. I've been scared away from products too based on reviews. Yet I've read bad reviews of a lot of hardware in my own computer and I'm like, "What are they talking about? This thing is awesome!" And also keep in mind the ones most willing to write reviews are often those who had a bad experience with the product. If it really is starting to rate 3 eggs or less, then yeah avoid it.
Yeah four slots of RAM that can hold up to 8 gigs each is all you ever need. Also, you don't necessarily have to shop at Newegg. They do have great deals, but not for everything. I wish I had compared prices more on each individual piece of hardware I bought. But Newegg has good customer service, granted. I think their monitors are a tad overpriced though.
Core i7 processor
4x4GB memory (either 1866, or 1600 -- unsure yet)
Single GeForce GTX 580 (possibly 570)
SLI is necessary. I would also prefer an ASUS mobo.
And the one DarkMatterTrace linked to actually is a really nice line of Asus. That particular model comes in different versions too depending on what you're willing to spend. I once debated between that one and this ASRock one...http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157265
The ASRock doesn't have the bluetooth like the Asus one does, but it does have four SATA 3 ports which could make for some awesome RAID.
Siaynoq's Playthroughs
To be honest I don't know much about computers (this build will be my first and I plan on learning a lot, and continuing to learn more), so I don't know exactly what I will be taking advantage of as of right now. I don't know anything about overclocking or anything of that nature. I do plan on having the computer for a while, and I expect that USB 3.0 will begin to have some worth in the future, so I would like to be able to have 1-2 USB 3.0s on the rear panel of the board.
I've always thought Asus was best when it came to mobo's but that could just be my lack of computer knowledge. I also don't plan on setting up RAID (at least to begin with) -- I'll be using a 1TB HDD, and a ~120GB SSD.
I guess the dilemma I'm having is that when I look at reviews on motherboards on newegg, all of them are 3-4 stars overall, so nothing really jumps out and says "this is the best", regardless of price.
Edit: I guess that these more pricey motherboards are setup up with all these tools to help people who know more about modding computers than I do. The more expensive boards come with so much that I would probably never make use of. I don't mind spending the money on something high-end, but I also don't need some 400 dollar motherboard that offers qual-SLI, and 8 slots for memory (because I'll probably never install that much). Although, on second thought -- having these as options can't be a bad thing.
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16813131791
I am now thinking this one (posted above) if I go with the nvidia 680. If I don't go with the 680, then I'll go with the P67.
Edit: Another board with pci-e 3.0, quite a bit cheaper too...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131792
What do you think between the two?
Oh yeah, I mean even for 2k you can build a screaming fast machine that's highly future-proofed. And dont' get me wrong, a good solid mobo is critical, but just beware of what makes a mobo cost more. Some features on it justifiably raise the price, others not so much. All I'm saying is for your needs, you can spend even just 150-180 on a mobo and it would still be way nice and you'd be working with something more in your league. I would spend that extra money you'd save on it toward your GPU or a higher capacity SSD or even four identical drives for your SATA 2 ports and do RAID 10! But it's all up to you. My mobo right now is nothing too flashy. I think it was about 100 bucks and it's got all the RAID capability, SATA 3 ports and all that stuff.
Oh man, do yourself a favor and educate yourself on RAID. If your budget is really 2-3k....you owe it to yourself! And today's BIOS makes that stuff a lot simpler to setup. Hell, you could even spend a few hundred and buy a dedicated RAID card with your budget. But I'm not sure what all you're looking to buy extra either so....
One thing you'll definitely learn about reviews is how worthless they are. Or at least....don't think you need to find a product that's rated five eggs because that's rare. People will rate a product at its lowest if say, its defective. That just happens with sensitive electronics sometimes so they're not even rating the product for how it performed when it's dead on arrival. But I know what you mean. I've been scared away from products too based on reviews. Yet I've read bad reviews of a lot of hardware in my own computer and I'm like, "What are they talking about? This thing is awesome!" And also keep in mind the ones most willing to write reviews are often those who had a bad experience with the product. If it really is starting to rate 3 eggs or less, then yeah avoid it.
Yeah four slots of RAM that can hold up to 8 gigs each is all you ever need. Also, you don't necessarily have to shop at Newegg. They do have great deals, but not for everything. I wish I had compared prices more on each individual piece of hardware I bought. But Newegg has good customer service, granted. I think their monitors are a tad overpriced though.
Siaynoq's Playthroughs